Spec Finish

LEGISLATION 32 www.thefis.org A s part of the Building Safety Programme, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced plans to establish a Construction Products Standards Committee (CPSC) made up of representatives from industry and academics. The Committee’s primary function will be to advise the Secretary of State for Housing on whether voluntary industry standards for construction products should also become UK regulatory standards, a role currently undertaken by the European Commission. The CPSCwill also provide advice and recommendations on the conformity assessment process and product test standards. In particular theCPSCwill advise on: • The assumptions and weaknesses within the current testing regime, including the effectiveness and accuracy of current tests; • Ways to improve the testing regime and new tests to address the weaknesses; and • Innovation in how construction products are tested. A key element of this work is looking at the inconsistency between products placed on the market that rely on standards cited in the European Journal as harmonised European Standards (hEn) and those that rely on the collective banner of European Technical Approval Guidance (ETAG) and hence are not legally required to meet the requirements of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Products and kits that fall within the CPR should be tested in accordance with the hEn, the performance declared on a declaration of performance (DOP) and the products CE marked. Systems that fall outside of the CPR include drylining, partitioning, SFS, internal fire doors, and fire door sets. To support this work, FIS has started the process of working with members to establish which products and systems will fall under this criteria, as well as which products can be inserted into another product that can impact its performance, for example service penetrations and plug sockets. Questions are already arising as to whether ETAG 003 is a workable and practical standard for partitioning and what implications there would be for the industry if ETAG 003 became a standard that partitioning and drylining was required to be assessed and tested against. Members are feeding in views on potential challenges, changes that might be required, speed of implementation and whether or not there may be a shortage of notified bodies to carry out the work necessary to produce DOP’s new product groups. Alignment to the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) is also closely being explored based on legal precedent that this regulatory area could be used to enforce breaches in safety if products are inappropriately used or poorly installed. The existence of ‘approved installer networks’ and the possibility of forming closer relationships with installers are also being explored, along with support for the Government’s thoughts on establishing a National Products regulatory role. As part of this work the government has been considering developing its own standards and UK mark which may become a barrier to imported products (and possibly a challenge for exports) as the UK exits the EU. For more information or to get involved in this work, please email joecilia@thefis.org TESTING AND PROCUREMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS SET FOR MAJOR OVERHAUL IN Building safety measures and EU exit throws up questions on standards that could radically change the market for suppliers and installers in the finishes and interiors sector.